Abstract [en]

The purpose of this study was to investigate how registered family Therapists in child and youth psychiatry (in Swedish BUP) perceives their own and their workplace knowledge of children who have experienced family violence. The aim was to look at how registered family Therapists conducts assessments and treatments on BUP when they meet a child who may have experienced or who have experienced family violence. Questions have been how registered family Therapists perceive their own respectively their workplace knowledge of children who have experienced family violence? Additional research questions have been how assessments are made and what kind of treatment that are offered by registered family Therapists on BUP? In the study, 38 registered family Therapists, have responded to a questionnaire with fixed answers. The questionnaire study has also been supplemented by 13 telephone interviews with semi-structured questions designed to make respondents share their views more freely. The results show that registered family Therapists experience their own competence to work therapeutically with the children who have experienced family violence as good. Nevertheless, there are obvious flaws in how assessments are conducted to ensure that these children get the correct diagnoses and are offered effective treatments. The result also shows that registered family Therapists, in treatment activities, put most focus on stabilization work with a focus on improving communication and interaction, but fails to assess, discuss and deal with any trauma as a result of family violence.